HOW TO CLEAN OUR SKIES [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.]
Szn,—I was extremely interested in " Crusader's " article, " How to Clean Our Skies," in your issue of October 3rd, and only regretted we were not informed how he heats his home if he has never bought an ounce of coal in his life. My husband and I had a nine-roomed house built two years ago, and to help to abate the smoke nuisance we had only three fireplaces installed.
We cook and wash with electricity, use electric radiators upstairs and in the living rooms when the weather is not too cold, and we have no gas in the house. Although we use the electricity freely we are not finding it too costly when we take into consideration the resulting cleanliness, especially in the kitchen. Gas is handy, but it is also dirty.
Now, if " Crusader " could inform us what to burn instead of coal, if he could tell us of something cheaper than coal that would not turn out a black smoke, he would help us to take another step in our efforts to clean our skies.—I am, Sir, &c., ANOTHER CRUSADER.
[" Crusader " writes : " This record of experience with elec- tricity is very fortunate. One would almost suppose that an uncharted Niagara exists in your correspondent's neighbourhood and provides electricity at the pleasant rates one meets in Buffalo or the city of Niagara Falls ! I have experimented with elec- tricity for heating in London, but had to stop after the first bill came in, the cost being absolutely prohibitive. That being so, I rely upon those products of the intelligent distillation of coal, which remain as solid and gaseous residues only fit to burn.' Coke, burnt in a suitable stove—mine is called a Sentry' and works to admiration—supplies the water for three much-used baths and several other points. It needs attention only once in twenty-four h%urs : and the system helps to keep the house dry and warm, in the absence of any system of central heating, which is superfluous and unhygienic in our climate. The cooking is done by gas, of course, and the rooms have properly designed, ventilated and regularly inspected gas stoves, which leave nothing to be desired on any score. The old stone sinks with which the house was equipped when built nearly a hundred years ago now serve as bird baths - and for growing rock plants in the garden. But space does not here serve to say how much at small cost can be done with an obsolete house if one will take a little pains I "—En. Spectator.]
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